Repairs needed - dealership required?

[Holidazed]

so I went into to the Nissan dealership last week for an oil change and they told me I needed the following repairs:

- Front Sway Bar Links worn - need replacing- Rear coil spring bump stops need replacing- Transmission Fluid change-Power Steering Fluid change

Which of these things would you recommend I get done at the dealership and which can I just go to a small corner mechanic or oil change/brake & muffler shop for?

I know the parts and fluids are pretty cheap and its mostly labor costs that the dealership will change. Any opinions and recommendations would be great. thanks!

[SnowSurfLax]

Aside from the sway bar links, that can all be done by the most basic of mechanic.

If you don't/can't, an independent mechanic will do it for about half the cost of a dealership.

[Holidazed]

so you recomend I get the sway bar links done at the dealership though?

[longhornsqx4]

The fluids you can do yourself for literally $50 and 1 hour. I bet youd be quoted $150-200 at the dealer, and you only need a 14mm ( i think ) socket, and a turkey baster as tools to complete both of those jobs. Well rags and disposal of oil

I dont know about the other parts as far as DIY, but for sure a local mechanic with a good rep can do those for MUCH less than a dealer, you just have to buy the parts and bring it to them and I bet it will be less than 2ish hours labour

[Buzzman]

Sway bar links are not that difficult if you are the least bit handy.I've done mine twice since I've had my truck.The other stuff is not that difficult, or necessary, in my opinion.I've never changed the power steering fluid in any car I've owned...ever.That just sounds like a cash grab to me.Same with transmission fluid. Every time I changed out the transmission fluid in one of my vehicles, or had a transmission flush, I've encountered problems afterwards.On those vehicles where I left well enough alone, no problems.I doubt I'll ever change out the fluid in my truck. Lesson learned for me.

[Holidazed]

buzzman: why have you replaced your sway bar links twice already? what causes them to go bad so quickly?

also, how soon should i get them replaceD? will they get worse fast or can i wait a month for the links and the bump stops?

I think i'll hold off on the fluid changes for now. i have heard that same thing from other people before about problems after a transmission fluid change or flush, and i deffinatly dont want that..

[Buzzman]

My truck has nearly 200,000 Kms on it for starters.I replaced them the first time at around 115,000 Kms or so.The second time was not that long ago.They weren't causing any real problems, nor were they broken.I started to get a clunking noise in the front end, and the links were the cause.They were just getting worn out a bit, that's all.I could duplicate the clunking noise by grabbing the underside of the front fender above the wheel, and rocking it up and down.I'm going to assume that the dealer wanted to change them for that reason.Are you getting a bit of a clunk when you go over a bump?If not, then the links may be OK.I've posted this little pic before, so I'm assuming these are what you and the dealer are talking about:

[longhornsqx4]

Have you even looked at your fluids that you say you dont wanna change? See if they look clean atleast yourself, takes 1 minute.

You can literally do both for $35ish. A 5 gallon pail of supertech ATF (which your PS and transmission both use) is like $32 and you need a turkey baster from the dollar store. thats it

You wont have problems after changing them, it HELPS, I just did both my transmission and PS fluid (and PS pump) this summer and my car shifted SOOO much smoother. You might not even think your car shifts rough/s***ty/slow, I didnt anyways, then I did the transmission flush and WOW, smoothness like a babys bum

And Ive still got 5-6 liters of ATF leftover from the bucket. Consider doing them atleast

[Adnan]

Buzzman,on a scale of 0-10 how complex would you rate the sway bar linksreplacement if i were to do it on my own?I hit a curb pretty bad a while agoand im tired of constant clunking even if i drove on newspaper

[Kidastra]

Hey, I work at a nissan dealership, this is my first post. As far as the links on a scale from 1-10 I'd give it a 3, the only problem you may encounter is if they were changed before and jobber parts were used then you will need to grab the shaft with vicegrips while removing the bolt, it is litterally a 10 minute job.

[Kidastra]

Oh and I suggest using original nissan links, the jobber ones don't seem to last as long

[Holidazed]

Kidastra: whats your opinion on the dealership reccomending changing the transmission fluid and power steering fluid? I'm getting mixed opinions on this one now.some people say dont do it and some people say it helps alot. I'd like to hear more opinions on this one.thanks!

[W O T]

Why would changing your transmission fluid be bad? Your simply removing old dirty contaminated and broke down oil, and replacing it with new fresh oil to the same level.

Yes it will help, and if filled properly to the correct level, there wont be a problem, how could there be? Youre just putting in new fresh fluid

ATF is GREAT in our PS system to.

I did both flushes maybe 2 months ago, I do them on all my cars sometime or another, never any problems, and a few 4L jugs of ATF (youd need about 20L to flush the transmission twice) shouldnt cost ya more than $60 for quality fluid

And PS flush like posted can be done with a simple turkey baster

Id do it myself if a shop recomended me to do them

[rhd itr]

the transmission fliud change you should probably get done at jiffy lube. but the other stuff you should be able to do at home if you have the proper tools

[larryt]

I believe the factory service manual only calls for a drain and fill of trans fluid. It's easier than changing your oil, so don't pay someone else to do it.

[Adnan]

Hey, I work at a nissan dealership, this is my first post. As far as the links on a scale from 1-10 I'd give it a 3, the only problem you may encounter is if they were changed before and jobber parts were used then you will need to grab the shaft with vicegrips while removing the bolt, it is litterally a 10 minute job.

sounds good...thanks !

[Adnan]

About the transmission fluids,the mechanic recommended not to change the fluid in my mom's 96 windstar since it could lead to future transmission problems...havent touched it and still runs strong.I changed the transmission fluid on my truck about 2 months ago and nothing changed what so ever,still jerks going from 1st-2nd but but no additional problems either

[Buzzman]

Hey, I work at a Nissan dealership, this is my first post. As far as the links on a scale from 1-10 I'd give it a 3, the only problem you may encounter is if they were changed before and jobber parts were used. Then you will need to grab the shaft with vicegrips while removing the bolt, it is literally a 10 minute job.

Oh and I suggest using original Nissan links, the jobber ones don't seem to last as long

About the transmission fluids, the mechanic recommended not to change the fluid in my mom's 96 Windstar since it could lead to future transmission problems...haven't touched it and still runs strong.

Agree with all three comments. My link bolts were a bugger to crack loose.All that salt we get in winter didn't help. I had to use vicegrips like Kidastra said.Still, it's not that hard. Definitely a DIY job.Also agree with you about using Nissan parts. They're not that expensive.Lastly, I had a 1996 Windstar (which I hated), and did a transmission flush a few years after I got it. Nothing but downhill after that. I traded it in on my Pathfinder mostly because it needed a new transmission. I couldn't wait to get rid of it.All in all, I still have to give it some thought whether to go ahead and do it on my truck.

[Kidastra]

Holidazed : as far as the transmission fluid goes, we do alot of fluid replacement at the dealership, there are alot of people who will take the "leave well enough alone" method, I would personally change it, remove all this tiny metal particles in the transmission fluid.

[Qxxx4]

alot of this applies to me...i get that clinking noise on bumps...getting a little annoying..how much are those sway bar links from the dealer? my mechanic drove it and said it wasnt a big deal but he could replace them for me

its been about 2 years, or 40k kms since ive changed my transmission fluid...its level is fine and its super clean...should i change it anyways?

[Kidastra]

I wouldn't worry about your fluid qxxx4, and I am not exactly sure of the price of the links in front, I will check prices tommorow and let you know what my dealership charges

[Qxxx4]

About the transmission fluids,the mechanic recommended not to change the fluid in my mom's 96 windstar since it could lead to future transmission problems...havent touched it and still runs strong.I changed the transmission fluid on my truck about 2 months ago and nothing changed what so ever,still jerks going from 1st-2nd but but no additional problems either

as far as i know that jerk is the transmission control modules setup. my 99 does that too and everyone i know with the first gen r50's do that. nothing wrong with the transmission. im still wondering if a TCM update exists. kidastra...do you know anything about that? your definatly an asset to this forum!!!!

[Qxxx4]

I wouldn't worry about your fluid qxxx4, and I am not exactly sure of the price of the links in front, I will check prices tommorow and let you know what my dealership charges

awesome! thanks very much

[Kidastra]

completly forgot to ask the price, I'll definelty do it tommorow, also will check for the update...